Clarksville, NC: Homicide suspect attempts evasion following fatal domestic shooting

By Turner McCullough, Jr. | March 3, 2012 | Homicide suspect attempts to flee the state following early morning shooting in Clarksville. North Carolina Highway Patrol took him into custody. Shortly after midnight on March 3, Clarksville police responded to a call of shots fired at Building 6, 1523 Nolan Road. Upon their arrival, the officers found several shell casings outside of the apartment. Additionally, multiple bullet holes were found in the front door. Officers entered the apartment and found a deceased female in the bathtub with gunshot wounds. The female is in her early 20s. Police reported, according to witness accounts, the female was seen attempting to get away from her male companion, (exact relationship still unverified), later identified as Nicholas Rico Durant, and ran into an adjoining apartment. Durant is said to have pointed a firearm at the victim, at which time, an eyewitness ran to get help and then heard several gunshots. Durant fled the scene and went to a friend’s house and disclosed that he had had a fight with his girlfriend and shot her. Police were able to determine that Durant had fled the area in a white Dodge Charger and his possible path of travel. Law enforcement agencies were contacted along the suspected escape route and the vehicle was spotted by the North Carolina Highway Patrol near the I-10 and I-26 interchange. Nicholas Rico Durant, (B/M, DOB: 8-1-90, Clarksville, TN) was taken into custody without incident around 10 a.m. and booked into the Buncombe County Detention Facility. He is awaiting extradition to Montgomery County for criminal homicide. The victim’s name will be released following notification of next-of-kin. The lead investigator is Detective Demone Chestnut. Anyone with information, is asked to call the TIPSLINE, 931-645-8477.